Minnesota Facts for Kids

A Map of the U.S. state Minnesota
  • U.S. State: Minnesota
  • Abbreviation: MN
  • Joined the USA: May 11th, 1858 (32nd State)
  • Located: Midwestern United States
  • Capital City: Saint Paul, MN
  • Most Populated City: Minneapolis, MN

32 Minnesota Facts for Kids

  1. Minnesota is a state in the United States of America.
  2. Minnesota became a U.S. State on Tuesday, May 11th, 1858.
  3. Minnesota was the 32nd state to join the United States.
  4. The U.S. state of Minnesota covers 86,950 square miles.
  5. Minnesota is the 12th largest state by area in the United States.
  6. In 2019, the population of Minnesota was estimated to be 5,640,000 residents by the U.S. Census Bureau.
  7. In 2019, Minnesota was the 22nd most populated state in the United States.
  8. A person who is from or lives in Minnesota is called a Minnesotan.
  9. The capital city of Minnesota is Saint Paul.
  10. The three most populated cities in Minnesota are Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Rochester.
  11. The largest city by population in Minnesota is Minneapolis.
  12. The largest metropolitan area in Minnesota is the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area.
  13. The U.S. state of Minnesota has 87 counties.
  14. The most populated county in Minnesota is Hennepin County with 1,266,000 residents (2019, U.S. Census Bureau).
  15. The largest county by area in Minnesota is Saint Louis County with 6,225 square miles.
  16. The highest elevation point in Minnesota is Eagle Mountain at 2,301 feet above sea level.
  17. The lowest elevation point in Minnesota is Lake Superior at 602 feet above sea level.
  18. The average precipitation (rain and snow) in Minnesota is 28.6 inches.
  19. Minnesota is the 38th wettest state by precipitation (rain and snow) in the United States.
  20. The average temperature in Minnesota is 42.9 °F.
  21. Minnesota is the 48th warmest state in the United States.
  22. The warmest temperature ever recorded in Minnesota was 115 °F on July 29th, 1917.
  23. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Minnesota was -60 °F on February 2nd, 1996.
  24. A few natural disasters that can affect Minnesota are blizzards, hail, heat waves, ice storms, river flooding and thunderstorms.
  25. Minnesota is in one time zone, Central Time Zone (CT).
  26. The USPS abbreviation for Minnesota is MN.
  27. Minnesota is commonly known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
  28. There are more than 15,000 lakes in Minnesota that cover more than one million acres.
  29. The official state fish of Minnesota is the walleye (Sander vitreus).
  30. The official state bird of Minnesota is the common loon (Gavia immer).
  31. The official state flower of Minnesota is the showy lady’s slipper (Cypripedium reginae).
  32. The official state tree of Minnesota is the red pine (Pinus resinosa).

Additional Resources on Minnesota

  • About Minnesota – Discover more about the U.S. state of Minnesota on the National Geographic Kids website.
  • History of Minnesota – Learn about the history of Minnesota on the Minnesota Historical Society website.
  • Facts About Minnesota – Find more facts about Minnesota on the Cool Kids Facts website.
  • Minnesota – Britannica – Read this detailed article about the U.S. state of Minnesota on the Britannica website
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